Alexandria Rediscovered

by Empereur, Jean-Yves; Maehler, Margaret; Compoint, Stephane

• ISBN13: 9780807614426
• ISBN10: 0807614424
• Edition: 00
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1998-10-17
• Publisher: George Braziller Inc.

Summary

The last six years have seen some of the most spectacular archaeological discoveries ever made in Alexandria, the legendary Egyptian city founded by Alexander the Great. Presented here is a full account of these extraordinary finds and of the exciting expeditions that led to their discovery. Located on the northwestern end of the Nile River delta, Alexandria was the greatest of Hellenistic cities. Athens' equal and political rival to Rome, Alexandria awed ancient travelers with its wealth, size, and cultural prestige. But unlike Athens and Rome, practically no visible trace of this splendid city remains, and, despite over a hundred years of archaeological efforts, the results have generally been considered meager. Recent excavations, however, have yielded a unexpected wealth of information. Directed by the French archaeologist Jean-Yves Empereur and conducted with the most modern methods, these digs have greatly enriched our knowledge of the art and architecture of Alexandria and of the lives and homes of its inhabitants. An underwater excavation at Fort Qayt Bey has enabled a more detailed re-creation of the Pharos lighthouse -- one of the seven wonders of the Ancient world -- and has also unearthed a series of Greek and Roman shipwrecks with surprisingly well-preserved cargoes. On land, the excavations have had equal successes, one of the most exciting of which has been the unearthing of the Gabbari necropolis. Exclusive photography by Stephane Compoint, who accompanied the archaeological team on their expeditions, appears throughout. Introducing newly discovered information and providing a re-evaluation of earlier finds, Alexandria Rediscovered offers a landmark contribution toour knowledge of this fascinating ancient city.

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION An archaeologist in Alexandria	11	(8)
CHAPTER ONE A century of archaeological research	19	(16)
CHAPTER TWO The site of Alexandria	35	(10)
CHAPTER THREE City walls, houses and streets	45	(18)
CHAPTER FOUR The Seventh Wonder of the World	63	(26)
CHAPTER FIVE The Sarapeion and Pompey's Pillar	89	(22)
CHAPTER SIX The Caesareum	111	(14)
CHAPTER SEVEN A city of cisterns	125	(20)
CHAPTER EIGHT In search of Alexander's tomb	145	(10)
CHAPTER NINE The catacombs of Kom el-Shuqafa	155	(20)
CHAPTER TEN The Necropolis (Gabbari)	175	(38)
CHAPTER ELEVEN The environs of Alexandria	213	(28)
CONCLUSION Regrets and hopes	241	(6)
Genealogy of the Ptolemies	245	(1)
Notes	248	(2)
Index of persons, gods and places	250